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Jim Farley Claims That Ford Needed Four Years To Resolve Its Quality Problems

Published

2 days ago

June 30, 2026

Ehijie

Ford Chief Executive Officer Jim Farley has expressed pride in the company’s recent designation as the top mainstream brand in the J.D. Power Initial Quality Study, attributing this success to a comprehensive four-year strategic initiative focused on resolving operational inefficiencies.

The study, which assesses vehicle issues identified within the first 90 days of ownership, noted that Ford reported an average of 152 problems per 100 vehicles. This performance enabled Ford to surpass competitors including Lexus, Nissan, Buick, Hyundai, and Subaru, representing a substantial improvement from the manufacturer’s 15th-place ranking in the mainstream category in 2023.

“This is a significant milestone for Ford,” stated Mr Farley following the announcement. “We have dedicated four years of rigorous effort to reach this point. It has been an extensive journey during which we have fundamentally transformed our production facilities and our quality management systems.”

While it is important to note that the study offers only a snapshot of new vehicle ownership and excludes long-term reliability metrics, it is equally significant that Ford has initiated 51 recalls this year—a figure exceeding that of its primary competitors by more than double. Nevertheless, Mr Farley informed Yahoo! Finance that the manufacturer successfully reduced warranty expenditures last year and anticipates further declines throughout the current year. He further emphasized that the reduction in recall-related costs represents a pivotal financial development for the company.

Ford’s Strategic Push for Quality Excellence

CEO Jim Farley noted that Ford underwent a significant cultural shift to align its quality standards with those of its Japanese and German competitors. He emphasized that the company’s workforce is now deeply committed to data-driven analysis, rigorously examining every defect to identify and address its root cause.

Beyond its focus on vehicle quality, Ford is actively developing a more affordable product lineup. During his interview, Farley confirmed plans to introduce five or six new models, led by an upcoming electric pickup priced under $30,000. He further highlighted that Ford has achieved cost parity with BYD regarding battery production, a milestone reached through the efforts of its dedicated skunkworks team in California.